Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Effect of peppermint aroma on physiological parameters of mechanically ventilated patients: Randomized placebo controlled trial","authors":"Azza Abd Elrazek Baraka","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Mechanical ventilation increases the stress, anxiety and, the physiological parameters of critically ill patients. Peppermint inhalation reduces the stress and improves physiological parameters in many studies, but none of these studies used peppermint inhalation for mechanically ventilated patients.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To assess the effect of peppermint aroma on physiological parameters of mechanically ventilated patients.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Randomized placebo controlled trial was utilized. This study was conducted at six intensive care units. Conscious patients on mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received a peppermint inhalation, and the placebo group received water inhalation. Patients in both groups were assessed for their smell ability by the Sniffin Sticks-test before starting the interventions. CONSORT checklist was used to report the study. A total of 52 patients in the intervention group and 54 patients in the placebo group completed the study.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The pain score was significantly decreased in the intervention group after starting the intervention in comparison to the placebo group. There was a strong positive correlation between Sniffin Sticks-test score and the decrease in pain score after inhalation of peppermint. Inhalation of mechanically ventilated patients to peppermint decreases pain score.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Inhalation of peppermint by mechanically ventilated patients decreases pain scores. The effectiveness of peppermint inhalation is correlated to the smell ability of the patients. So, nurses can use peppermint inhalation to decrease pain in mechanically ventilated patients with Sniffin Sticks test score of 17 or more.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>The identification number of the registered trial in the Clinical Trials Online Registry is NCT05541809.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143783653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychometric properties of the Bangla version of the Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6): A dual approach of classical and modern test theory","authors":"Md Hasanuzzaman ,&nbsp;Md Shajadul Islam ,&nbsp;Md Hafizur Rahman ,&nbsp;Fardana Binte Zaman ,&nbsp;Abdullah Al-Adib ,&nbsp;Sayoda Sadia Rahman Sara ,&nbsp;Tahmid Ahmad ,&nbsp;Md Marufur Rahman Seyam ,&nbsp;Md Shafiqul Islam Khan ,&nbsp;Md Bony Amin","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Bangladesh has consistently prioritized vaccination to address health issues. While high hesitation continues to be a significant barrier to vaccination success, vaccination fear is a distinct psychological construct that might affect the decision to vaccinate. Despite this, no valid and reliable tool exists to assess vaccination fear in the Bangladesh population.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>We aim to validate culturally and adapt the Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6) in Bangladesh.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1098 participants using a non-random convenient sampling method. A total of 1089 were included in the study (mean age = 34.28 years, SD = 12.78), with the majority being female (55,5 %). Descriptive statistics were carried out to get an overall idea of the dataset, and inferential analysis including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Rasch statistics, were employed to validate the VFS-6 Bangla version.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The internal consistency of the overall VFS-6 scale was 0.818.I In CFA substantial loadings were observed, ranging from 0.713 to 0.935. The significant correlation between the somatic and cognitive factors of VFS-6 was 0.48, and the correlation with DASS-21 was weak but significant (<strong><em>r</em></strong> = 0.29). CFA indicated a good model fit. Rasch analysis demonstrated good item and person separation reliability (0.82 and 0.80, respectively), with a substantial relationship between scores, ability, and probability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Bangla version of the VFS-6 has proven to be a reliable and valid measure to assess vaccination fear.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of appetitive traits among Iraqi population","authors":"Zainab M. Al-Shammaa ,&nbsp;Mohammed I. Aladul ,&nbsp;Narmin S. Essa","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Appetitive traits (ATs) are the possession of an overweight-promoting group of stable tendencies towards food including responsiveness to food stimuli, hunger, and satiety responsiveness which are associated with overeating and weight gain.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To assess ATs profile of a sample of the Iraqi population.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study used a self-administered, web-survey of the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire between the 1st and the March 30, 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>1112 subjects participated in this study. Among the measured ATs, the highest median score was for enjoyment of food (22, interquartile range [IQR]: 5), while the lowest was for food fussiness (11, IQR: 4) and slow eating (11, IQR: 6). Two distinct clusters were identified: the food gourmets cluster, which tended to have higher mean scores in food approach traits, and the fuzzy eaters cluster, which had higher mean scores in food avoidance traits. Statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics were found between the two clusters, with the food gourmets cluster tending to have a higher body mass index (BMI), being younger in age, and consuming more frequent meals per day.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study found two clusters with different ATs in a sample of Iraqi population: fuzzy eaters cluster and food gourmets cluster. Strong associations between the identified clusters and demographic variables (age, BMI, gender, and meals per day) were found.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life after stroke from Survivors perspective: A descriptive cross-sectional study","authors":"Isha Manjalamkunnel Aboobacker ,&nbsp;Namitha Subrahmanyam ,&nbsp;Kalesh M. Karun ,&nbsp;Leena Kunnath Chacko","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Stroke contributes to the global disability and greatly affects the physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing of an individual. Understanding the factors that influence recovery is crucial for developing interventions that promote independence and autonomy among stroke survivors. The present study examines the relationship between self-efficacy, functional ability, quality of life and perceived dependence on caregiver among stroke survivors.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A Quantitative approach with descriptive-cross sectional design was adopted in the study. By using convenient sampling technique, a total of 148 stroke survivors within the age group of 35–65 years were recruited from the neuro inpatient department of a selected tertiary care hospital of Ernakulam district, Kerala. The tools used to collect the data were, The socio demographic proforma, Clinical proforma, The Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, The Barthel Index, The Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale, and Likert scale on Perceived dependence on caregiver. Spearman's correlation and Mann-Whitney/Kruskal-Wallis test or ANOVA (p &lt; 0.05) was used for data analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study revealed low median scores for self-efficacy 2(0,6), functional ability 35(20,40), Quality of life 58(49,67) and perceived dependence 56(55,58) among stroke survivors. Quality of life was significantly related to self-efficacy (r_s = 0.526, p &lt; 0.001) and functional ability (r_s = 0.523, p &lt; 0.001) whereas a negative correlation was observed with perceived caregiver dependence (r_s = -0.249, p &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Quality of life of stroke survivors was significantly related with Self-efficacy, Functional ability and Perceived dependence on caregiver. Health care professionals can improve stroke outcomes by optimizing the care requisites and by initiating Nurse-Led Rehabilitation empowerment programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102001"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Valuing community health workers (CHWs): Opportunity costs and out-of-pocket spending among CHWs in the Indonesian stunting prevention program","authors":"Adriana Viola Miranda ,&nbsp;Ryan Rachmad Nugraha ,&nbsp;Trio Sirmareza ,&nbsp;Maritta Rastuti ,&nbsp;Rizky Deco Praha ,&nbsp;Rindang Asmara ,&nbsp;Zack Petersen","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.101982","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.101982","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>In the Indonesian stunting prevention program, the often non-salaried community health workers (CHWs) are responsible for monthly monitoring, counseling, and home visits. Understanding the importance of their roles from an economic perspective may inform a more sustainable and improved program delivery.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To estimate the opportunity costs and out-of-pocket spending incurred by the CHWs in the Indonesian stunting prevention program.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural villages in Lombok, Indonesia. We interviewed 130 CHWs with a pre-validated, structured questionnaire. Opportunity costs were assessed using two valuation models: calculating their working time valuation based on regional minimum wage and the CHWs’ self-reported earnings outside of their community health work.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We found that 52·31 % of the CHWs were not satisfied with the current incentivization scheme. Opportunity cost calculation shows that these CHWs were underpaid: reported monthly workload is valued at USD 46·54 according to the valuation model based on regional minimum wage and USD 13·81 based on CHWs self-reported income. Furthermore, out-of-pocket spending reached almost one-third of the received incentives (median USD 2.90 (IQR 0·87–4·95)).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Appropriately incentivizing CHWs working on stunting prevention programs in Indonesia is one of the main priorities to ensure better program delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101982"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Edible oil consumption in Puducherry: A sequential exploratory mixed methods study","authors":"Sombuddha Biswas ,&nbsp;Athira Menon ,&nbsp;Namita Patel ,&nbsp;Chandru Sivamani ,&nbsp;Haripriya Sundaramoorthy ,&nbsp;Subitha Lakshminarayanan","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.101998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.101998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Among dietary factors that influences non-communicable diseases, edible oils (EO) play a crucial role due to the types of fat they contain, as well as the methods of processing, storage, and cooking practices. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the factors influencing household choices of EOs and cooking practices, and to determine the quantity and patterns of EO consumption among households in Puducherry, South India.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A sequential exploratory mixed-methods study was conducted between February 2023 and March 2024 in Puducherry. The qualitative phase included key-informant and in-depth interviews with subject experts, EO shop dealers, and eligible adults responsible for household cooking. Data saturation was achieved after five IDIs and five KIIs. The quantitative phase involved a structured questionnaire and a 24-h dietary recall administered to 205 adults, selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Intake analysis was done with DietSoft software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The qualitative analysis identified five major themes: consumer behaviour and preferences, cooking practices and oil usage, sourcing and storage, industry practices, and strategies for promoting healthy EO consumption. About 72.4 % of participants were female, with a mean age of 46.1 years. Groundnut oil (56.7 %) and sunflower oil (52.8 %) were the commonly used oils. Most of the participants (61.2 %) bought oil from supermarkets and stored it in plastic containers (42.1 %). The mean (SD) of total energy intake was 2230.6 kcal (461.9), with 33.0 % (10.8 %) of energy from fat. Saturated fat intake was within safe limits, while polyunsaturated fat intake was below recommendations.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights the diverse factors influencing EO consumption patterns and cooking practices. A multi-pronged approach is necessary to targeting consumers as well as stakeholder for enabling healthier EO practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101998"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Saudi in vaso-occlusive crisis accessing healthcare for pain management: A qualitative study","authors":"Jawhrah Alqahtani","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Adults with sickle cell disease often experience vaso-occlusive crises, leading to frequent healthcare visits and increased disparities in care. The pain management experiences of sickle cell disease patients are underexplored, especially in Saudi Arabia, contributing to prolonged suffering.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To explore the lived experiences of Saudi Arabian adults with sickle cell disease when accessing healthcare for vaso-occlusive crisis pain management.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Setting(s)</h3><div>The study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between November and December 2021.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>12 adults with sickle cell disease were recruited through purposeful and snowball sampling.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were analyzed using Moustakas's transcendental phenomenology, focusing on the lived experiences of participants.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four themes emerged: (a) <em>enduring suffering, (b) crying out for understanding, (c) paradoxes in healthcare access, and (d) longing beyond suffering</em>. Participants expressed deep pain and frustration, desiring better recognition of their pain and more compassionate, informed care. They reported that healthcare interactions often felt inadequate, with long waits and insufficient treatment, leading to feelings of isolation and distress. Acknowledging their suffering and providing empathetic, well-informed care could alleviate these issues and help them move beyond their pain toward hope and better quality of life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linking Diet and Homocysteine to complexity of coronary artery disease using SYNTAX score – A cross sectional study","authors":"Sowndarya Kollampare ,&nbsp;Anupama Hegde ,&nbsp;Arpit Jain ,&nbsp;Padmanabh Kamath ,&nbsp;Ramya Shenoy ,&nbsp;Poornima A. Manjrekar","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hyperhomocystinemia (HHcy) attributed to various causes is considered an independent risk factor in the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Homocysteine (Hcy) levels are affected by aging, renal dysfunction, hypothyroidism, oral hypoglycemics, dietary deficiency of folic acid (FA), vitamin B6, B12 (B12) and genetic defects. Influence of diet on Hcy and its relation to SYNTAX score was evaluated in newly diagnosed CAD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 160 patients aged 40–59 years diagnosed as CAD by the Cardiologist at a tertiary healthcare center. SYNTAX score was calculated using a computer program. Hcy was estimated on the COBAS Pro c503, vitamin B12 (B12) and FA levels were estimated on the COBAS Pro e801 using ROCHE kits.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>HHcy (&gt;15 μmol/L) was detected in 82 CAD patients and the point estimate of odds ratio was 1.157 with 95 % CI (1.056–1.267) of CAD. CAD patients with HHcy were labelled as Group I; Group II were those with Normal Homocysteine (NHcy) (≤15 μmol/L; n = 78). Hcy had a statistically significant correlation to SYNTAX score (Group I: r = 0.429; Group II: r = 0.233). Majority (n = 65) of Group I were vegetarians showing equal prevalence of high and intermediate risk SYNTAX score. Among them, substantial patients (n = 48) were found to have combined B12 and FA deficiency. Significant number (n = 57) of Group II patients had low risk SYNTAX score irrespective of deficient or sufficient B12/FA status.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>HHcy was a common finding in nutritionally compromised vegetarian CAD patients contributing to higher risk SYNTAX score.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health and socio-economic factors as determinants of antenatal care service access in Indonesia","authors":"Mangatas Silaen ,&nbsp;Sri Rahayu ,&nbsp;Ida Aryanti ,&nbsp;Andjar Prasetyo ,&nbsp;Sri Wahyuni ,&nbsp;Tugas Tri Wahyono ,&nbsp;Sumarno ,&nbsp;Titi Mumfangati ,&nbsp;Irmawan ,&nbsp;Herie Saksono ,&nbsp;Arnis Rachmadhani ,&nbsp;Yustina Hastrini Nur ,&nbsp;Baso Marannu","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the relationship between well-being dimensions and access to antenatal care services in Indonesia using data from 34 provinces. Linear regression analysis across three models reveals: health, nutrition, housing, and food dimensions explain 88.1 % of the variation in initial antenatal care (Model 1); nutrition, social protection, and food dimensions account for 58.6 % of the variation in first-trimester antenatal care (Model 2); and health, nutrition, and food dimensions explain 67.2 % of the variation in receiving antenatal care at least four times (Model 3). These findings underscore the significance of health, nutrition, and socio-economic factors in enhancing the coverage of antenatal care services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emergence of scrub typhus-associated neurological signs in central India: An unusual manifestation in febrile illness cases in Madhya Pradesh, India","authors":"Gayatri Sondhiya ,&nbsp;Prakash Tiwari ,&nbsp;HV Manjunathachar ,&nbsp;Vivek Chouksey ,&nbsp;Pradeep Tiwari ,&nbsp;Pradip V. Barde ,&nbsp;Chandrashekhar G. Raut ,&nbsp;Tapas Chakma ,&nbsp;Harpreet Kaur ,&nbsp;Pushpendra Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem considered</h3><div>Scrub typhus, a re-emerging zoonotic infection, often manifests as acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUF), posing a significant epidemiological threat in tropical and subtropical regions. Its nonspecific clinical presentation complicates timely diagnosis, increasing the risk of severe morbidity. Understanding its epidemiology and clinical characteristics is crucial for effective disease control, particularly in areas prone to outbreaks.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and clinical features of scrub typhus through detailed patient history, clinical examination, and commercial IgM ELISA, following DHR guidelines.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 911 AUF patients from tribal-dominated regions of Madhya Pradesh, India, 22.3% [95% CI: 19.6–25.1] were seropositive for anti- O<em>. tsutsugamushi</em>-specific IgM antibodies, indicating widespread transmission across 17 of 24 districts, particularly in tribal populations, between August 2018 and July 2020. Patient ages ranged from 9 months to 86 years, with 41.2% under 15 years and 35.5% in the working-age group (31–60 years). Notably, 16.7% of seropositive patients exhibited nervous system involvement alongside other clinical signs. Both genders showed similar susceptibility, and 32.3% of seropositive cases reported fever lasting 7–15 days. Peak seropositivity was observed during the monsoon at 38%, followed by the post-monsoon period at 20.4%.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrates the significant burden of scrub typhus in tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh, India, with high seropositivity during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The association of prolonged fever with organ involvement emphasize the need for early detection, inclusion of scrub typhus in differential diagnoses, and region-specific preventive measures, particularly in endemic areas like Central India.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102000"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}